“Dreams Do Come True”
Two-Time World Champion James Carew Wins World’s Largest Kite-Surf Event After Year-Long Injury Break!
(Sylt) “Exactly one year ago I had surgery, and everyone told me I wouldn’t be here today. Just being here was a win for me. Now I have the World Cup title on Sylt, dreams do come true,” said the newly crowned champion James Carew after the grand final.
The 25-year-old Australian, who made his tour comeback on Sylt after a year-long injury break, started the day strong in the final runs. In the quarterfinal battle of the world champions against Matchu Lopes (2016 World Champion), Carew (2021 & 2022 World Champion) prevailed with a fantastic performance and high scores. In the semi-final, the Aussie also beat Bulgarian Nicola Abadjiev by a significant margin. In the previous round, Abadjiev had caused the biggest surprise of the day by eliminating the current World Champion and No. 1 in the rankings, Airton Cozzolino, from the competition. On a day marked by extreme weather, Carew showed spectacular jumps at 20 meters high and maximum power in the air and on the wave. In the final, the “comebacker” faced the 20-year-old shooting star from Brazil, Gabriel Benetton. Benetton had not only caused a sensation the day before with a perfect 10.0 trick, but had also eliminated defending champion Kiko Roig on his way to the final.
Stormy, rainy, and up to 50 knots (almost 100 km/h wind speed) – that’s how you could sum up the minutes right before the final. Just in time for the big showdown, the weather cleared up for the riders and numerous spectators. In an incredibly close duel and under still difficult conditions, James Carew ultimately had the edge with 21.20 to 20.35. An emotional victory that he celebrated together with the other riders to the great cheers of the spectators.
Third place went to Spaniard Lorenzo Casati in the small final.
Women’s Final Expected Tomorrow, Saturday
The day started directly with the semi-final runs for the women. Switzerland’s Camille Losserand, third last year, gave her opponent Clemence Derrien from France no chance, showing high and high-class jumps at Brandenburger Beach. The second semi-final was much closer, with not even a point separating defending champion Capucine Delannoy from Kesiane Rodrigues from Brazil. The day before, Rodrigues had defeated the best German, Susi Schwarztrauber, in the third round.
The women’s final between Losserand and Delannoy is expected to take place tomorrow, Saturday.
More Action and Wide Range of Activities This Weekend
The Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2024 promises adrenaline and action this weekend as well. In addition to the women’s final, the public can look forward to spectacular show events and challenges on the water. A visit to the Brandenburger Stand is worthwhile not only for this reason, as numerous stands, pop-up stores and a wide range of gastronomic offers attract visitors on around 500 meters. Admission to the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup is free on all days.
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In the end, there was no way around the top favorite at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. The 17-year-old Frenchwoman Capucine Delannoy defended her title on the North Sea island and won on Brandenburger Strand in Westerland.
Simply unbeatable on Sylt - Capucine Delannoy is and remains the queen of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. The 18-year-old Frenchwoman beat Switzerland's Camille Losserand in a high-class final and secured her third title in a row after 2021 and 2023 (the event did not take place in 2022). "It was just perfect, I scored the perfect 10.0. I've been training for months for this event and this moment and I'm so happy," said the overwhelmed winner directly after the final run on Brandenburg Beach.
The biggest kite surfing event in the world is also in full swing - the riders in the supreme discipline of kite surfing got down to business on Thursday. After the first heats were completed on Wednesday afternoon, the women and men have been battling it out in alternating rounds for the coveted places in the quarter and semi-finals since the morning hours.
Exactly one year ago, I had an operation and everyone told me that I wouldn't be here today. Just being here was a win for me. Now I have the World Cup title on Sylt, dreams do come true," said the newly crowned champion James Carew after the grand final.
It's all set for the Defender GKA Kite-SurfWorld Cup on Sylt! For the 3rd time, the Qatar Airways GKA KiteWorld Tour will be stopping off at Brandenburger Strand in Westerland, with the world's best kite surf riders in tow.
The premiere of the Hydrofoil Big Air competition has a beaming winner - Charles Brodel from France, five-time serial world champion, beat his opponents by a clear margin to not only win the World Cup on Sylt, but also secure the European title in this spectacular kite discipline.
The Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt is returning and once again promises exciting competitions and spectacular action on Westerland's Brandenburger Strand. From August 20 to August 25, 2024, the best kite surfers in the world will compete for the coveted title. In addition to the kite surfing discipline (wave and strapless freestyle), hydrofoil champions will also be crowned for the first time - including the European Championship title.
Successful week at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. Not only the main competition offered breathtaking action on the water over the past few days, spectators were also able to enjoy another highlight on Brandenburg beach this Sunday. In the hydrofoil competition, which was integrated for the first time, the athletes flew far more than 10 meters above the sea in moderate conditions and performed spectacular jumps and tricks.
The finals of the newly initiated E-Foil Race competition were on the program for the pros on Friday. After the heats had already been held on Thursday, Friday was all about the very first title in the new discipline as part of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt.
First ever final on the Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour and the title at the biggest kite surfing event in the world! 22-year-old Kiko Roig Torres from Spain surprisingly secures victory at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt. - 18-year-old German Keanu Merten rides to a sensational third place with a wild card.
50 athletes from 16 nations at the start - Seven German riders compete for the titles - Atmospheric opening ceremony on Brandenburg beach - Varied supporting program and free admission on all days.
Mark your calendar in red: the island of Sylt is finally attracting the world's best windsurfers and kite surfers to Westerland again this year. From August 22nd, the absolute world elite will meet for six days at the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt on Brandenburg Beach.
For the third time after 2019 and 2021, water sports fans can look forward to the biggest kite sports event in the world on Sylt. From August 22 to 27, the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup will take place on Germany's largest North Sea island and the starting field is more than impressive.
Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt ends with official award ceremonySpectacular competitions, fantastic conditions and great media interest at the only stop of the GKA World Tour in Germany.
At the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt, the best kitesurfers in the world had their first break on Friday. The wind was too weak to hold another super session. The athletes were not idle, however, and were busy signing autographs on Brandenburg Beach.
After the spectacular and exciting strapless freestyle and wave competitions, the action at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt continued on Thursday. For the kitesurfing artists, the best trick super session was on the agenda, in which only the best aerial maneuver was counted.
We are very happy about the large starter field at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup on Sylt! Today we received the final list from the GKA. 16 women and 30 men from 16 countries are seeded for the World Cup. There is even a waiting list for the men. So we can expect kitesurfing of the highest perfection from the best kitesurfers in the world.
A competition for high-flyers. On the third day of the event, the kiters once again showed what they are capable of in a super session.
The competitions at the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup have been decided after two exciting days in the best wind and wave conditions.
James Carew won the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt on Wednesday. The Australian beat Brazil's Pedro Matos in a high-class final and fulfilled his dream of winning on Sylt after coming second in 2019.
Two and a half meter high waves and up to eight wind forces - at the start of the Land Rover Kitesurf World Cup Sylt on Tuesday, perfect conditions prevailed for the discipline of kite surfing, in which strapless freestyle and wave are held.